”What makes Finnish kids so smart?” explored The Wall Street Journal in a February 2008 article. A family exhibition at the Finnish Embassy gives some answers to why Finland’s teens score extraordinarily high on international tests. It's an intriguing journey into the world of Finnish children from newborn to late-teens: education, health care, fashion, hobbies, environment, school architecture, music, Moomin characters, and much more.
Family exhibition at the Embassy of Finland, 3301 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC.
October 23–November 15, opening hours Fri–Sun 11am–4pm.
On Saturdays and Sundays music performances, films, interactive games, storytelling workshops; please see a detailed list below. The exhibition is part of Kids Euro Festival: www.kidseurofestival.org
Entrance and all events are free!
SNUFKIN & MOOMIN
Musical Landscapes from Moominvalley
All ages • Duration: 30 mins
Heikki Mäenpää (Snufkin: vocals, harmonica and guitar)
Heikki Koivunen (Moomin: double bass)
Finland’s Moomins have touched the hearts of millions of people throughout Europe and Japan. What will happen when Snufkin plays his harmonica and his best friend Moomintroll plays the double bass in Washington, D.C.?
Saturday Oct 24
11:30am & 2:00pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Oct 25
11:30am Embassy of Finland
2.30pm La Maison Française
Tuesday Oct 27
6:00pm Kennedy Center
Saturday Oct 31
11:30am & 2:00pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Nov 1
11:30am Embassy of Finland
2:30pm La Maison Française
MYSTERY OF THE WOLF
An adventure film
Age: 7+ • 90 mins
Directed by Raimo O. Niemi
In Finnish with English subtitles
One day life changes for the 12-year-old schoolgirl Salla. Her biological mom Laila returns to the small village where Salla has been living happily with her adoptive parents. At the same time, Salla is faced with another challenge; she has saved two wolf cubs from being illegally hunted by poachers…
Saturday Oct 17
1:00pm Natural History Museum
10th Street and Constitution Ave, NW
Sunday Oct 25
2:45pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Nov 1
2:45pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Nov 8
2:45pm Embassy of Finland
MOOMIN ANIMATION FILMS
All ages • 30 mins
Saturday Oct 24
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"Spring in Moomin Valley"
Sunday Oct 25
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"Tiny Guests"
Saturday Oct 31 (Halloween)
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
”Invisible Friend”
Sunday Nov 1
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"The Dessert Island"
Saturday Nov 7
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"The Suitcase"
Sunday Nov 8
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"Spring in Moomin Valley"
Saturday Nov 14
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
”Tiny Guests"
Sunday Nov 15
1:00pm Embassy of Finland
"The Dessert Island"
WHO WILL COMFORT TOFFLE?
A Tale of Moomin Valley
Author: Tove Jansson
Storytelling and workshop
All ages • 30 mins
Toffle has grown quite sad and lonely. When he discovers that Miffle is lost and alone as well, he starts his journey through the Moomin Valley in search of a friend. As Toffle travels across the Moomin Valley, he meets many interesting creatures.
Wednesday Oct 21
10:30am Takoma Park Library
416 Cedar St NW
Saturday Oct 24
12:15pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Oct 25
12:15pm Embassy of Finland
Saturday Oct 31
12:15pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Nov 1
12:15pm Embassy of Finland
Sunday Nov 8
12:15pm Embassy of Finland
A Tale of Two Mozzies (Denmark)
Saturday Oct 24 at 2:45pm
Animation film
All ages • 80 mins
Co-directed by Flemming Quist Moller & Jannik Hastrup
In Danish with English subtitles
Dagmar the dancing mosquito has the hots for Egon. But Egon, putting love on hold, is busy achieving the ultimate sprint on his bike and wants to see the world. When wicked red ant queen Dominella and her soldiers kill the black ant queen and take over her heap, our heroes are drawn into an exciting forest floor drama that puts their friendship to the test and forces them to use their talents to the utmost.
Sergeant Pepper (Germany)
Saturday Oct 31 at 2:45pm
Drama film
Age: 4+ • 100 mins
Director: Sandra Nettelbeck
In German with English subtitles
A dog who was named after the Beatles album inherits his master's fortune. His owner's two children, however, devise a plan to make off with his wealth.
Hakim The Dream Robber (Netherlands)
Sunday Nov 1 at 2:00pm
Mime and storytelling
Age: 4+ • 50 mins
Hakim Traïda
A dream robber steals dreams from children, partly because children have the most beautiful dreams, but also (and especially) because they have so many. Using his dream-o-scope, the dream robber can trace dreams from very far away and suck them up. He uses them to stay young, because he is an old man who has no more dreams. One day, the dream robber steals the dreams from an inventor’s son…
Stories from the Laundry Basket (Slovakia)
Saturday Nov 7 at 11:30am
Puppet Show
Age: 4–13 • 35–40 mins
Lucia Obenaus (Aiculina)
Martin Ondrejkovic
Have you ever noticed how many stories are hidden in your laundry basket? Different characters, different stories: come and watch the laundry creature’s dreams and journeys!
Babar the Elephant (Malta)
Saturday Nov 7 at 2:00pm
A Musical Journey
Age: 6+ • 60 mins
Sarah Spiteri, violinist
Alex Vega Gregory, pianist
Renzo Spiteri, percussionist
Godfrey Mifsud, clarinetist
Saint James Cavalier Center for Creativity
Babar the Elephant is coming your way, and he is no ordinary elephant! From the original stories by Jean de Brunhoff, with glorious music by Francois Poulenc, comes a charming musical tale for children, with an exciting new orchestration scored for piano, clarinet, percussion and narrator.
